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Full Circle News
May 2026
Grants | Grants |
Announcing the 2026 Grantees! Thanks to our members' thoughtful votes, AAWGT has selected the 2026 grantees which will receive funding to support women and families in Anne Arundel County. 57 initial requests were carefully reviewed by 62 of our dedicated members and 16 compelling proposals were presented to members for the vote. With your participation – an impressive 60% of you voted– we are proud to announce that $262,913 in grants are being awarded this year! Without further ado, here are the awardees: Click HERE to read more.Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation, Inc.: Discoveries Pantry: Essential Diaper, Menstrual, and Hygiene Support for Women and Families - $18,000 will help more than 4,500 women and their families meet basic needs — diapers, menstrual products, and hygiene supplies that make daily life possible. These essentials keep children cared for, help caregivers work, and support. Charlene’s Circle of Support: Kinship Support Hub - $25,000 will empower kinship caregivers and youth impacted by a parent’s struggle with mental illness, substance use, or incarceration by building their resilience and well-being. Charting Careers: Building Pathways of Support for Women and Families - $25,000 will help inspire youth to discover their power and reach their goals through transformative mentoring, life-enriching opportunities, and family partnership and by serving as champions for equity. Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools: After School Program Transportation Pilot for Tracey’s Elementary School - $25,000 will design, launch, and scale a transportation program that increases student participation in after-school programs, thereby alleviating childcare challenges and burdens on working families. Joy Reigns Lutheran Church: 2J2 House Life Skills Program - $14,204 will help equip mothers with the tools to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. This program helps mothers develop essential skills in areas beyond sobriety, such as parenting, financial literacy, and health and wellness will have an impact that is profound and enduring. Little Yellow Bird Foundation: Dental Services for Homeless and Underserved Residents in Anne Arundel County - $25,000 will support at least 150 underserved county women and families who need dental services and emergency care. Path to Hope is a program of Path Project, Inc.: Legal Fund for Immigrant Women and Children - $25,000 will provide legal counsel and representation to low-income immigrants who seek to gain, maintain or change lawful immigration status and employment authorization in the United States. Rise and Shine Inc: Women’s Cohort Workforce Training - $20,000 will provide workforce training and jobs in the bakery industry for people with employment barriers: people experiencing homelessness, veterans, those in addiction recovery, formerly incarcerated, youth aging out of foster care, survivors of domestic violence, and single mothers in poverty. Seafarers Foundation, Inc.: Summer Youth Program - $25,000 will help empower and support underserved youth, families, and seniors through educational services, water safety instructions, maritime experiences, and community care, thus building confidence, reducing drowning rates, and improving quality of life across generations. Seeds 4 Success: Lifelong Learning, Inc.: Lifelong Learning: Collective Child and Caregiver Mentorship - $25,000 will support children enrolled in core mentorship programs. The Blue Ribbon Project, She Matters Initiative - $6,800 will provide essential, gender-specific personal care items to adolescent girls in the foster care system. Touchstones Discussion Project, Inc.: Empowering Incarcerated Women with Transformational Growth and Inclusive Community - $21,460 will triple the number of women served by Touchstones volunteer-led programs to include 100 individuals incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCI-W) and 200 women at AAC’s Detention Center on Jennifer Road and the pre-release facility in Jessup. And, although insufficient funds remained to award the full amount requested, we are pleased to support the work of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anne Arundel County: Mental Health Programs for Women and Families for $7,449 to improve the quality of lives of Anne Arundel County individuals affected by mental illness and provide support for their family, friends, and caretakers. This process, rooted in trust-based philanthropy, reflects our shared commitment to impactful, lasting change in our community. Thank you for helping direct these vital resources where they’re needed most. Together, we’re making a difference. |  It’s Time For Your Vote! What a month! In March and April our 64 enthusiastic grant team reviewers and team leaders met and whittled down our 57 grant applications to 16 proposals for your vote on the ballot. This process captured why all of us joined AAWGT - to collectively give to support women and families and connect with women who are smart, capable, and caring in the process. Every member of the grants team fits the bill! We appreciated their insights and problem-solving. Members, we've got a great ballot for you. And we need your vote! It is because of the dollars you have contributed that we are able to award these grants. How to Vote: On May 1 your ballot will be emailed to you with voting instructions and the link to the online ballot. Don’t forget to submit your vote before midnight on May 7. Hear the results: Join us on zoom, May 12th, 7:00pm, to learn who our 2026 grantees will be! Register here to attend. |
Getting Togethers
Join us on April 28th at Miss Toya’s (soul-filled) Southern Kitchen Member event! Registration is open so click HERE! Save the Date for our May Getting Together, coffee at InGrano on May 13th, 8:30am. |
Grantee Spotlight
Don’t miss this! 2026 Grants Announced and more at our virtual member meeting Tuesday, May 12, 7:00PM. Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Join us for our May member meeting to:
Members can log in at 6:45 PM to visit with fellow members. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 PM. Register Today by clicking HERE. |
Next Gen
Introducing Your AAWGT Next Gen Committee Launched: a new AAWGT committee designed to engage and empower the next generation of women philanthropists. Focused on women of working professional age, the committee will create opportunities to connect through hands-on service projects, meaningful networking, and educational programs that deepen engagement between AAWGT and our nonprofit partners.. The Next Gen Committee will collaborate across the organization to develop service opportunities, support an annual “One More Grant” fundraising event, and host “Give Back Nights” to welcome new members. The first official meeting will be held on May 13, and members interested in getting involved are encouraged to email nextgen@givingtogether.org to learn more. Calling all Next Gen women! | Leadership, Governance, & Nominating
Your 2026-27 Leadership Opportunity “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Pablo Picasso Is your gift leadership? Where is your passion? Contact us today and join AAWGT’s strong team of leaders. Coming into the new leadership year, which starts July 1, we are still looking for passionate members to fill the following positions: membership assistant chair and grants assistant chair. Please reach out to LGN committee – Eileen Cortese in the next 3 weeks to explore these opportunities, cortesefam@aol.com. |
DEIAB
DID YOU KNOW: April Celebrates Arab-American Heritage Month April is a time to honor the rich history, culture, and diverse contributions of Arab Americans from 22 countries to the United States. Click HERE to read more.Recognized nationally since 2021/2022, this month celebrates heritage through events, education, and by challenging stereotypes, with major recognition from the White House, Congress, and many states. Americans of Arab heritage have advanced the nation’s achievements in diplomacy, science, technology, as well as in art and culture. The month highlights the history of Arab immigrants in America, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Resources to learn more: Image came from the Arab American Foundation ( https://arabamericafoundation.org/national-arab-american-heritage-month/ ). | Member Spotlight
Meet New AAWGT Lifetime Member Sherry Perkins When renewing my AAWGT Membership, I began to think more seriously about Lifetime Membership. The more I learned, the more I realized it made meaningful philanthropic, business, and personal sense. A Lifetime Membership creates grant support both this year and for the future. Click HERE to read more.Philanthropically, I believe deeply in the mission and stewardship of the Endowment Fund. Community needs will continue to evolve and - through AAWGT’s grants process - those needs are thoughtfully assessed and prioritized. There will always be opportunities to make a difference. From a financial standpoint, Lifetime Membership made sense as well. I appreciated the opportunity to make an investment now while also helping build the AAWGT Endowment for the future. Plus, I was able to use funds from a Donor Advised Fund. And, on a personal level, I love the idea that our family’s support of AAWGT will continue in perpetuity. Sherry E. Perkins Thank you, Sherry! |
Leadership Message
Welcome to Spring and 20 years of AAWGT One step forward towards spring, a few steps back to winter - the cycle of our weather. But not for AAWGT as we only grow and thrive in our 20th anniversary year: 2007-2027. From our March Women in Leadership event to our April AAWGT Open House featuring our community work, partners, and committees, we are having a fabulous Spring with you. Click HERE to read more.Importantly, at the heart of our mission, our Grants Committee has completed their review of 57 applications (a record number) and will present the resulting ballot for your vote online, May 1st - 6th. The recipients, and the 2026-27 slate of officers, prepared by our Leadership, Governance and Nominating (LGN) committee, will be presented at AAWGT’s May 12 Membership meeting. Grant making is what we are all about, so when you receive the ballot please vote your choices for where your dollars will be invested in your community. As you read FCN and engage with AAWGT online (follow us!), you will get a glimpse of the activity that makes AAWGT a force for good- from the Equity Study Group’s outings and discussions to our newest committees- Next Gen and Fundraising/Development’s community outreach to Education, Grant Liaison, and Membership's upcoming events - and all the essential work done by DEAIB, Events, Grant Systems, Web/IT, Marketing & Communications. We hope to see you at our next “Getting Together” and other upcoming events and always look forward to hearing from you. Stealey Ashley, President | 6 Ways to Support AAWGT!
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Welcome New Members! | Mark Your Calendar |
Welcome! Welcome New AAWGT members! So glad you’ve joined us. Christine Anderson (3/11/2026 - 4/11/2026) |
New Members: Save the Date! Join us at the New Member Reception and Orientation on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. This special evening will help you connect with fellow members and learn how to get involved. We can’t wait to officially welcome you! New members will receive an email soon with RSVP details. The location will be provided once you RSVP (hosted in a member’s home). If you have any questions, please email us at membership@givingtogether.org. We can’t wait to officially welcome you! New members will receive an email soon with RSVP details. The location will be provided once you RSVP (hosted in a member’s home). If you have any questions, please email us at membership@givingtogether.org.. |
Recent Events/Photos! |
Where History Meets Our Future: AAWGT's Spring Open House at Historic London Towne A night of community, connection, and new beginnings Click HERE to read more.
More Photos from the Spring Open House |
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